Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Artist Orange’

ABSTRACT

A  Chrysanthemum  plant named ‘Artist Orange’ characterized by its medium sized daisy-type blooms with yellow/red ray-florets and green disc florets.

RELATED CULTIVARS

‘Artist Orange’ is related to ‘Artist Yellow’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,806), of which it is a color mutant.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

‘Artist Orange’ is a product of a breeding and selection program which had the objective of finding color mutants of ‘Artist Yellow’. The new plant of the present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of chrysanthemum plant that is a natural occurring sport of a parent chrysanthemum named ‘Artist Yellow’. A comparison with parent chrysanthemum ‘Artist Yellow’ is also made in this application. The new and distinct cultivar was discovered as a whole plant mutation by Mark Roland Boeder in a controlled environment (greenhouse) in Rijsenhout Holland in 2002. The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘Artist Orange’ was accomplished when vegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in 2002 and propagated in a controlled environment in Rijsenhout, Holland.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a new and distinct variety of chrysanthemum bearing medium sized daisy blooms with orange/red ray-florets and green disc florets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention of a new and distinct variety of chrysanthemum is shown in the accompanying drawings, the color being as nearly true as possible with color photographs of this type.

FIG. 1 shows a plant of the cultivar in full bloom.

FIG. 2 shows the various stages of bloom of the new cultivar.

FIG. 3 shows the foliage of the new cultivar.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This new variety of chrysanthemum is of the botanical classification Chrysanthemum morifolium L. The observations and measurements were gathered from plants grown in April/May in a greenhouse in Rijsenhout Holland in a photo-periodic controlled crop under conditions generally used in commercial practice. The greenhouse temperatures during this crop were at day-time between 18° C. and 25° C. and at night 20° C. After a long day period of 14 days the photo-periodic response time in this crop was 54 days. After the long day period to flowering plant growth retardants were applied once in a dose of 2 gram/liter water. The plants were observed (directly) during the flowering of this crop. The plant is sensitive to infestation by Powdery Mildew. The plant is tolerant to low night temperatures. This new variety produces medium sized blooms with yellow/red ray-florets and green disc-florets blooming on the plant for 5 weeks. This new variety of chrysanthemum has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics throughout successive propagations however the phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment such as light intensity and temperature. To show the phenotype as described ‘Artist Orange’ can be planted without assimilation lightning (high pressure sodium lamps) between week 1 and week 35 under greenhouse conditions in Holland. With assimilation light (minimum level 2500 lux) it can be planted year round under greenhouse conditions in Holland.

From the cultivars known to inventor the most similar existing cultivar in comparison to ‘Artist Orange’ is ‘Artist Yellow’ and ‘Orange Reagan’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,769). When ‘Artist Orange’, ‘Artist Yellow’, and ‘Orange Reagan’ are being compared the following differences and similarities are noticed: All three plants have daisy-type blooms. The difference of ‘Artist Orange’, ‘Artist Yellow’ and ‘Orange Reagan’ is the color of the ray-florets. In ‘Orange Reagan’ this color is orange, while it is in ‘Artist Orange’ a pattern of red streaks on an orange background, and in ‘Artist Yellow’ red streaks on a yellow background.

The following is a description of the plant and characteristics that distinguish ‘Artist Orange’ as a new and distinct variety. The color designations are taken from the plant itself. Accordingly, any discrepancies between the color designations and the colors depicted in the photographs are due to photographic tolerances. The color chart used in this description is: The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, edition 1995.

TABLE 1 Botanical Description of CULTIVAR ‘Artist Orange’ Bud Size Medium, cross-section 1 cm height 1 cm Outside color Orange 29 B Involucral bracts 2 rows, length 7 mm, width 3 mm Involucral bracts among disc-florets Not present Involucral bracts color Green 141 B Bloom Type Daisy Size Medium Fully expanded 5-6 cm Number of blooms per stem Average of 14 Performance on the plant 5 weeks Seeds (if crossed) Produced in large quantities, oval shaped, Grey-brown 199 A, 2 mm in length Fragrance Typical chrysanthemum, slight Peduncle length Near the top 6 cm, near the middle 11 cm, near the bottom 21 cm Peduncle color Green 143C-D Color Center of the flower (disc-florets) Immature Yellow-green 154 C Mature Yellow-orange 15A Color of the ray-florets Upper surface Orange 29A with streaks of Red 45B Lower surface Greyed Orange 164C with streaks of Greyed-Orange 173B Tonality from Distance A spray mum with orange/red flowers and green disc Color of the upper surface of the Orange 29A with streaks ray-florets after aging of the plant of Red 45B Ray florets Texture Upper and under side smooth Number 25 Cross section Flat Longitudinal axis of majority Straight Length of corolla tube 0.4 cm Ray-floret margin Entire Ray-floret length 2.8-3 cm Ray-floret width 0.9 cm Ratio length/width Medium Shape of tip Rounded Disc florets Disc diameter 1 cm Distribution of disc florets Numerous, clearly visible at all stages of flowering. Shape Tubular Receptacle shape Domed Raised Reproductive Organs Stamen (present in disc florets only) Thin 3 mm in length Stamen color Yellow-green 144 B Pollen Present Pollen color Yellow-orange 14 A Styles (present in both ray and disc Thin florets) Style color Yellow-green 150 B Style length 0.4 cm Stigma color Yellow-green 144 B Stigma width 0.2 cm Ovaries Enclosed in perianth Plant Form A spray mum meant for erect culture Growth habit Upright Growth rate Vigorous Height 90 cm Width 25 cm Internode length 2.5-3 cm Spray formation Cylindrical Stem Color Green 138A-B Stem Strength Strong Stem Brittleness Not brittle Stem Anthocyanin coloration Absent Flowering Response (photo- 54 days periodic controlled crop, not natural season) Foliage Color immature stage Upper side Green 143B-144B Lower side Green 139C-139D Color mature stage Upper side Green 137A-138A Lower side Green 138A-138B Color midvein mature leaf Upper side Yellow-green 147D Under side Yellow-green 145D Size Medium; length 11 cm, width 7 cm Quantity (number per single stem) 28 Shape Cordiform Texture upper side Fleshy and glabrous Texture under side Pubescent Venation arrangement Palmate Shape of the margin Lobed - serrated Shape of Base of Sinus Between Rounded Lateral Lobes Margin of Sinus Between Lateral Converging Lobes Shape of Base Truncate Apex Mucronulate Petiole Length 2 cm Petiole Color Yellow-green 147D

TABLE 2 Differences with the comparison Varieties ‘Artist Orange’ ‘Artist Yellow’ ‘Orange Reagan’ Color upper Orange 29A Yellow-orange Greyed-orange side ray-florets and Red 45B 14B and Red 46A 169A-169B Color lower Greyed-orange Yellow-orange Greyed-orange side ray-florets 164C and 14C and Red 46B 163B greyed-orange 173B 

1. A new and distinct variety of chrysanthemum plant as described and illustrated. 